Mayo Clinic Health System launches Name the Robot Contest for state of art da Vinci Surgical Robot

December 21, 2011

Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato has announced a contest to name its new da Vinci® surgical robot, an advanced technology that provides increased vision, precision, dexterity and control for surgeons performing delicate and complex operations. The “Name the Robot” Contest is open to all elementary students in the Mankato ISD 77 School District.

“We are very proud to make this cutting edge medical technology available to patients throughout the region,” says Greg Kutcher, M.D., president and CEO of the Southwest Minnesota region of Mayo Clinic Health System. “Involving young people in naming our new robot helps them understand the incredible advancements taking place within health care today and increases awareness about the specialized care services offered by Mayo Clinic Health System locally.”

Contest flyers are being sent home with all elementary students in the Mankato School District. Students can draw a picture of a surgical robot and give it a name. Participating schools will return the entries to Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato at the beginning of December and a panel of surgeons, nurses and other staff members will select the winner.

The selected art will be displayed in the da Vinci ® operating room at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato and the student will receive special recognition.

About the da Vinci® System

The da Vinci® system is a sophisticated robotic platform designed to expand the capability of surgeons and offer a minimally invasive option for many surgical procedures. With da Vinci®, small incisions are used along with miniaturized instruments and a high-definition 3D camera.

At the da Vinci® console, the surgeon operates while seated, viewing a highly magnified 3D image of the body’s interior. To operate, the surgeon uses master controls that work like forceps.

As the surgeon manipulates the controls, da Vinci® responds to the surgeon’s input in real time, translating his or her hand, wrist and finger movements into precise movements of miniaturized instruments at the patient-side cart.

The system cannot be programmed and it cannot make decisions on its own. The da Vinci® requires every surgical maneuver be performed with direct input from the surgeon.